Firearms once outside realistic recoil can now be manageable:
Combining these portable exoskeletons:
http://www.raytheon.com/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/image/rtn08_exo_10.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLS9V_-StM4
With firearms before not practical as shoulder fired weapons is coming soon.
The maker of that exoskeleton is Raytheon, a defense contractor.
http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn08_exoskeleton/
A feat like this guy dual wielding M249s would be nothing in such a suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4nfZu8VqgQ
It won't be long before such things are used for certain military and civilian tasks. If you have such a suit not encoumbered by standard levels of recoil there is little reason not to pack larger calibers or higher firepower. 20mm one handed firearms and portable miniguns will no longer be far fetched (or the ability to carry adequate ammo supply.)
The uses for soldiers actualy seem somewhat limited on long patrols or complex missions. They would be more useful in operations on base near resources.
However for things like police applications against barricaded suspects they seem much more practical as the suit can be brought in a truck to the site and deployed.
How long before they are fielded by SWAT teams?
No knock raids in one of those fitted with previously unrealistc levels of armor and armed with massive firepower would be easy. The officer could just pull a door off its hinges and take on a room of armed bad guys by himself, nevermind with backup following behind.
It will be some years to come before they are affordable enough to be widely fielded, but that day is coming.
Combining these portable exoskeletons:
http://www.raytheon.com/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/image/rtn08_exo_10.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLS9V_-StM4
With firearms before not practical as shoulder fired weapons is coming soon.
The maker of that exoskeleton is Raytheon, a defense contractor.
http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn08_exoskeleton/
A feat like this guy dual wielding M249s would be nothing in such a suit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4nfZu8VqgQ
It won't be long before such things are used for certain military and civilian tasks. If you have such a suit not encoumbered by standard levels of recoil there is little reason not to pack larger calibers or higher firepower. 20mm one handed firearms and portable miniguns will no longer be far fetched (or the ability to carry adequate ammo supply.)
The uses for soldiers actualy seem somewhat limited on long patrols or complex missions. They would be more useful in operations on base near resources.
However for things like police applications against barricaded suspects they seem much more practical as the suit can be brought in a truck to the site and deployed.
How long before they are fielded by SWAT teams?
No knock raids in one of those fitted with previously unrealistc levels of armor and armed with massive firepower would be easy. The officer could just pull a door off its hinges and take on a room of armed bad guys by himself, nevermind with backup following behind.
It will be some years to come before they are affordable enough to be widely fielded, but that day is coming.
